Vented spike connection component

ABSTRACT

A connection component suitable for use with an enteral fluid delivery set is arranged in the form of a replacement for the cap of a pre-filled, foil sealed fluid container. The connection component includes a fluid outlet passage which is arranged in the form of a projecting spike which penetrates and opens the foil seal as the connection component is attached to the pre-filled container.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 021,181,filed on Mar. 3, 1987, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a connection component arranged formounting on a tubing assembly for connection to a prefilled, foil-sealedcontainer, and in particular to a connection component which includes aspike for penetrating a foil seal and an air vent.

In an enteral fluid delivery system for a patient, there is a need toprovide a component that will effect a quick connection of a fluiddelivery set to a prefilled, foil-sealed container containing enteralnutritional fluid. In such systems the connecting component ispreferrably in the form of a cap, which replaces the shipping cap on theprefilled container, and includes means for perforating the foil seal onthe container during attachment. Such automatic perforation is desirableto simplify the set-up procedure. It is further desirable that theconnecting component provide a means to allow air to vent into thecontainer as fluid flows from the container. Such venting should beachieved without permitting venting air bubbles from entering the outletflow channel.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aconnection component for effecting a quick coupling between a fluiddelivery set and a prefilled, sealed container that minimizes the timeof exposure of the container contents between seal puncture andattachment to the fluid delivery set.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a connectioncomponent for use with prefilled, foil-sealed containers that inhibitsentry of air into the fluid flow path.

A still further object of this invention is to provide such a connectioncomponent that can puncture and deform the seal of a prefilled bottle ina manner that permits the venting of air into the container and thepumping of fluid therefrom.

These and other objects of the invention are obtained by means of aconnection component adapted to be attached to a prefilled, fluidcontainer, said component including a circular wall portion, a pointedprojecting member extending from the wall portion and spaced from thecenter of the wall portion, said projecting member having a fluidreceiving passage passing through the wall portion, said projectingmember being spaced from the center of the wall portion, and an air venton the wall portion, spaced from the center of the wall portion at aposition opposite from said projecting member.

For a better understanding of the invention, as well as other objectsand further features thereof, reference is had to the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiments which makes reference to thefollowing set of drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective assembly view, partly in section along the line1--1 of FIG. 2, of a connection component according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the connection component shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a foil seal of a prefilled container after theseal has been deformed by the attachment of the FIG. 1 connectioncomponent to said container;

FIG. 4 is a cut-away view after the connection component has beenattached to the container as in FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a perspective assembly view, partly in section, of the FIG. 1connection component in operative engagement with a prefilled container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 the vented spike connection component of thepresent invention is generally comprised of a housing body 1 including acircular wall having a top surface 2, a bottom innerside surface 3, anda rim 4 adapted to be detachably mounted to the neck 41 of a prefilledcontainer 40. The connection component is preferably formed from moldedplastic and has a one piece construction.

The housing body 1 is provided with two cylindrically shaped members 5and 6 extending outward from surface 2. Member 5 has an internal passageof which forms an air vent and includes a one way valve 9 arrangedwithin recess 8 formed as an enlargement of the inner end of passage 7.A cover 20 may be provided to close passage 7 prior to use.

Cylindrical member 6 includes a top portion 10 extending outward fromsurface 2 and is adapted to be attached to a plastic tubing 30 whichalong with the connection component forms an enteral fluid delivery set.Cylindrical member 6 also includes a bottom portion 11 having a spikeformed by truncating the cylindrical member portion 11 with anintersecting angled plane starting at a location 12 just below thebottom surface 3 of the housing body 1 to a point 13 extending below theedge 14 of the rim 4. Member 6 includes a central passage through whichenteral fluid can pass from container 40 into tubing 30.

In the FIG. 1 embodiment, the circular wall formed between surfaces 2and 3 has a central axis designated C1 about which the connectioncomponent is rotated for attachment to fluid container bottle 40. In theillustrated embodiment cylindrical member 5 and 6 are each offset fromaxis C1 on opposite sides of C1. In addition the shape of the spike 13formed on portion 11 of cylindrical member 6 is oriented so that theopening of the central passage is facing away from the vent passage 7formed through member 5. The center C3 of member 6 is offset byapproximately 0.1 inch from the center C1 of the connection component.This offset provides for effective action of the spike end 13 in openinga passage through a foil seal on a fluid container 40.

The center C3 of member 6 is offset by approximately 0.5 inch from thecenter C2 of member 5. This separation, along with the orientation ofthe opening of the passage in member 6 prevents air bubbles which enterfluid via vent passage 7 from being drawn into the outlet passage inmember 6. Additionally, a rib 15 is provided on the bottom innersidesurface 3 of the connection component. The rib 15 acts to deflect theseal after it has been punctured, thereby prohibiting the seal fromobstructing the air passage in member 5.

With the aforedescribed vented spike connection component of the presentinvention, possible interference caused by collection of the seal of thecontainer around the base of the projecting member, after it has piercedthe seal of the container, is eliminated by the deformation of the sealin a manner as shown in FIG. 3. This irregularly shaped aperture 43 inthe seal 42 is caused by the offset of its centerline C3 of cylindricalmember 6 from the axis C1 of the housing. With reference to FIG. 4, theaperture 43 is sufficiently extended to permit air to be vented into thecontainer without being obstructed by the foil seal 42. Also theaperture is sufficiently deformed at the center as to allow clearpassage of the fluid to the fluid carrying projecting member 6.

When in use the connection component according to the present inventiondisposes the long side 601 of the fluid carrying projecting member 6adjacent the vented air stream 602 as illustrated in FIG. 5. Thisplacement provides a physical barrier between the vented air stream 602and the area adjacent the point of fluid exit 603. Coupled with asufficient distance displacement between the air stream 602 and thefluid exit point 603 they form a system that provides reliable deliveryof the fluid from the container to the fluid flow circuit withoutinducement of air into the circuit in the form of a bubble. Further, theflow of fluid or vent air is not obstructed by the foil seal.

The detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the inventionhaving been set forth herein for the purpose of explaining theprinciples thereof, it is known that there may be modification,variation or change in the invention without departing from the properscope of the invention and the claims thereto.

We claim:
 1. A connection component for connection to a fluid containingbottle having an opening and a threaded connection for receiving aclosure cap, comprising:a cap shaped component body including a circularwall portion and a cylindrical threaded portion extending in one axialdirection therefrom; a pointed projecting member extending from saidwall portion spaced from the center of said wall portion on the sameside as said threaded portion, said projecting member having a fluidreceiving passage passing through said wall portion and having a fluidreceiving opening on the side of said projecting member facing away fromsaid center; and an air vent on said wall portion spaced from saidcenter in a position opposite said projecting member.
 2. A connectingcomponent as specified in claim 1 wherein said projecting member iscylindrical and has a pointed end formed by an intersecting angledplane.
 3. A connecting component as specified in claim 1 wherein saidprojecting member is spaced from said center by at least approximatelyone tenth of an inch.
 4. A connecting component as specified in claim 1wherein said projecting member is spaced from said air vent byapproximately one half of an inch.
 5. A connecting component asspecified in claim 1 wherein said air vent includes a one-way valve. 6.A connecting component as specified in claim 1 further comprising a ribmember displaced on said wall portion between said projecting member andsaid air vent.
 7. A connecting component arranged for attachment to theopening of a fluid container, said connecting component including a wallfor covering said opening, a pointed projecting member extending fromsaid wall toward the container at a position spaced from the centerthereof, a fluid channel passing through said wall and said projectingmember and having a flud receiving opening adjacent the end of saidprojecting member, the fluid receiving opening spaced from said wall,and an air vent in said wall spaced laterally away from said projectingmember on the laterally opposite side of said wall center.
 8. Aconnection component for connection to a fluid containing bottle havingan opening, a piercable protective seal covering the opening and athreaded connection for receiving a closure cap, said componentcomprising:a cap shaped component body including a circular wall portionand a cylindrical threaded portion extending in one axial directiontherefrom, said threaded portion adapted to threadedly receive thethreaded connection on the bottle; a pointed projecting member extendingfrom said wall portion, said member having a centerline laterally offsetfrom the centerline of said wall portion on the same side as saidthreaded portion, said projecting member having a fluid receivingpassage passing through said wall portion and having a fluid receivingopening adjacent the end of said projecting member, the fluid receivingopening spaced from said wall portion, said projecting member beingcylindrical and said end being pointed such that said pointed endpierces the seal of the bottle to form an aperture in the seal largerthan the diameter of said projecting member upon threaded connection ofsaid connection component to said bottle; and an air vent in said wallportion spaced laterally from the center line of said wall portion on aside latrally opposite to said projecting member.
 9. The connectioncomponent as claimed in claim 8, wherein said pointed end extendsfurther toward said container than any portion of said fluid receivingopening and said pointed end is disposed between said fluid receivingopening and said vent opening.
 10. The connection component as claimedin claim 9, wherein all of said fluid receiving opening extendssubstantially further toward said container than any portion of saidvent opening.
 11. A connection component arranged for attachment to theopening of a fluid container, said connecting component including a wallfor covering said opening, a pointed projecting member extending fromsaid wall toward the container, a fluid channel passing through saidwall and said projecting member and having a fluid receiving openingadjacent the end of said projecting member, and a vent passage passingthrough said wall and having a vent opening, at least a portion of saidfluid receiving opening extending further toward said container than anyportion of said vent opening and said vent opening being laterallyspaced away from said projecting member and on the laterally oppositeside of said projecting member from said fluid receiving opening. 12.The connection component as claimed in claim 9, wherein said pointed endextends further toward said container than any portion of said fluidreceiving opening and said pointed end is disposed between said fluidreceiving opening and said vent opening.
 13. The connection component asclaimed in claim 12, wherein all of said fluid receiving opening extendssubstantially further toward said container than any portion of saidvent opening.
 14. A connection component arranged for attachment to theopening of a fluid container, said connecting component including a wallfor covering said opening, a pointed projecting member extending fromsaid wall toward said container, a fluid channel passing through saidwall and said projecting member and having a fluid receiving openingadjacent the end of said projecting member, and a vent passage passingthrough said wall and having a vent opening spaced laterally away fromsaid projecting member on the laterally opposite side of the center ofsaid wall, a portion of said projecting member extending further towardsaid container than any portion of the fluid receiving opening and beinglaterally disposed between said fluid receiving opening and said ventopening.
 15. The connection component as claimed in claim 14, whereinall of said fluid receiving opening extends substantially further towadsaid container than any portion of said vent opening.
 16. The connectingcomponent claimed in claim 15, wherein said vent opening is recessedfrom the portion of said wall between said projecting member and saidvent opening.